Means for facilitating lifting layered sheet material



Oct. 21, 1958 D. R. EDELSON MEANS FOR FACILITATING LIFTING LAYERED .SHEET MATERIAL Filed. Oct. .22, 1956 INVENTOR.

HY R E D as o H United States Patent MEANS FOR FACILITATING LIFTING LAYERED SHEET MATERIAL Dorothy R. Edelson, Elkins Park, Pa. Application October 22, 1956, Serial No. 617,404 2 Claims. ((1206-58) This invention relates generally to means for dispensing sheet material and more particularly to means for dispensing sheet material arranged in layers that cling tenaciously to one another.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide layered sheetmaterial with means coursing between the layers aforesaid to facilitate lifting one layer from the others. I

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide such means readily-discernible throughthe sheet material so as to clearly mark a convenient starting point along a terminal edge of the sheet material for commencing the layer separating operation.

Still another principal object of the present invention is to provide such marking means which has no apparent tendency to adhere to the sheet material, in consequence of which the marking means operates to effectively detach from one another the areas of the sheet material between which it is interposed.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide such marking means which may be utilized without any material increase in the bulk of the layered sheet material.

And a further important object is to provide such marking means which repeatedly marks the detached areas aforesaid, each time the sheet material may be severed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaged roll of material constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the package of Figure 1, taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the roll of material, shown outside of the container in side elevation.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the roll of Figure 3, taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the roll of Figure 3, taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is the same as Figure 3, but shows the roll after it is partially consumed; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing certain details.

The combination constructed in accordance with and .embodying the principles of the present invention includes the layered sheet material that is to be dispensed, designated by the letter A, a ribbon or tape that courses through this sheet material, which ribbon is designated by the letter B, and a container for the sheet material, designated by the letter C.

, 2,857,047 Patented Oct. Zl, 1958 The sheet material A is a flexible transparent plastic material approximately tissue paper thin, the inherent nature of the sheet material being such that superposed layers thereof cling tenaciously to one another so .that considerable difficulty is experienced when an attempt is made to lift one layer from the others. This sheet ma terial is rolled time and again about a core 10, the ter- :minal edge or end of the roll being designated 11.

The ribbon B is a thin comparatively narrow strip of paper that may be provided with advertising or decorative matter 12 which is repeated throughout the length and on both sides or faces thereof and/or score lines 13 or perforations (not shown) which are closely spaced along the length thereof.

The ribbon B preferably extends continuously the full length of the sheet material A and is disposed in underlying contacting relation thereto, being rolled up with the sheet material A to spiral from one end of the roll to the other, the pitch of the spiral being several times the width of the ribbon. The inherent natures of the sheet material A and of the paper strip B are such that there is no apparent tendency for them to adhere to one another. Furthermore, the paper strip is colored so that it is plainly discernible through the plastic Sheet material, which is transparent.

The roll of plastic sheet material A with the paper strip B coursing therethrough is received by the container C, which container is provided with an opening through which the end portions of the sheet material and of the paper strip extend freely, and with a metal element 14 that has a saw tooth cutting edge 15.

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4, before placing the roll in the container, the end portion of the plastic sheet material A must be separated from the underlying layer thereof. The end 11 of the sheet material, otherwise hardly discernible, is readily located by merely locating the readily discernible end of the paper ribbon B. Now the end portion of the plastic sheet material A is lifted, 'beginning at the paper ribbon B, at which location the area of the plastic sheet material overlying the paper ribbon B is free of the latter, i. e., does not adhere thereto. Then the rolled up material is placed in the container C and the separated end portions of the plastic sheet material A and the paper ribbon B are passed through the container and turned over the cutting edge 15 to fully expose the end portion of the paper ribbon B, which latter may be severed simultaneously with the end portion of the plastic sheet material.

It will be observed that the advertising or decorative matter 12 of the paper strip B is exposed to view whether the roll is in the container C or not. If the paper strip is scored or perforated, severance thereof is facilitated. The paper strip is spirally wound into the roll to prevent bunching thereof and any material increase in the bulk of the roll. Furthermore, the paper strip functions for its intended purpose repeatedly, every time a section of the plastic sheet is cut off.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the invention. For example the paper ribbon or strip B may be replaced with a thread. Furthermore, the transparent plastic material may be replaced with a translucent plastic material. Still further, the principles of the present invention are applicable whether or not the flexible or plastic material is rolled up, it being only necessary that the sheet material be arranged in layers. Accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is: i

plastic sheet material inherently of such nature that superposed layers thereof tend to cling tenaciously together, means incorporated in said roll of plastic sheet material for facilitating separation of the outer end thereof from its underlying layer preliminary to unro lling a portion .of the material from the roll, said separating means consisting of a comparatively narrow strip of non-plastic ma;- terial spirally wound between the successive convolutions of said roll of plastic sheet material and operative to prevent adherence of overlying layers of the plastic material in the narrow area defined by and coextensive with said strip, said strip of non-plastic material being severable from the roll simultaneously with said plastic sheet material whereby the outer ends of said plastic sheet material and said strip of non-plastic material are constantly in substantial registry along the line of severance of said plastic sheet material from the roll thereof, said strip thereby providing at said line of severance a limited area of no direct contact or adherence between overlying layers of said plastic sheet material for initiating separation of the outer end of the plastic sheet material from its roll and a readily visible indication of the point at which the outer end of the plastic sheet material may be lifted from the roll thereof.

2. In combination with a roll of flexible, tissue-thin plastic sheet material inherently of such nature that superposed layers thereof tend to cling tenaciously together,

means incorporated in said roll of plastic sheet material for facilitating separation of the outer end thereof from its underlying layer preliminary to unrolling a portion of the material from the roll, said separating means consisting of a comparatively narrow width ribbon of paper or like tearable material spirally woundbetween the successive convolutions of said rolled-up plastic sheet material and operative t0. preyent adherence of overlying layers of the plastic material in the narrow area defined by and coextensive with said ribbon, said ribbon beiiig severable from the roll simultaneously with said plastic sheet material wherebythe outer ends of said plastic sheet material and said ribbon are constantly in substantial registry along the line of severance of said plastic sheet material from the roll thereof, said ribbon thereby providing at said line of severance a limited area of no direct contact or adherence between overlying layers of said plastic sheet material for initiating separation of the outer end of the plastic sheet material from its roll and a readi 1y visible indication of the point at which the outer end of the plastic sheet material may be lifted from the roll thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent McManus et a1. July 6, 1943 

